Convertible gondola display for stores

ABSTRACT

A convertible gondola island display for stores includes a unit molded plastic base having a monoplanar top platform and a honeycomb skeleton body which includes parallel spaced monoplanar side and end walls and a series of interconnected partitions therebetween. The partitions and end walls define a pair of openended tubular passages at the ends of the platform and body which receive upright tubular supports frictionally disposed therein and which extend above said platform. The top platform includes a pair of outwardly opening slots which supportably receive and retain a pair of upright back panels on said platform nested between said supports. The tubular supports on their opposite sides have longitudinally spaced slots adapted to supportably receive bracket hooks at the ends of shelves adjustably positioned against and upon said supports.

United States Patent 1191 Olinick CONVERTIBLE'GONDOLA DISPLAY FOR STORES[75] Inventor: Robert F. Olinick, Warren, Mich.

[73] Assignee: The Jentzen-Miller Company,

Madison Heights, Mich.

[221 Filed: Apr. 30, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 355,810

[52] US. Cl ..2l1/148, l 08 /108, 1 08/5 1 [51] Int. Cl. A47f 5/00 [58]Field of Search 312/114, 117; 108/51, 53,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,092,284 6/1963 Stout220/72 X 3,159,437 12/1964 Jentzen 211/148 X 3,173,723 3/1965 Hoven etal. 297/445 X 3,185,115 5/1965 Rand 211/148 X 3,186,363 6/1965 Moore211/148 X 3,307,504 3/1967 Cloyd et al. 108/51 X 3,330,228 7/1967Donnelly 108/51 3,601,256 8/1961 Bowers, Jr. et al. 211/148 3,640,3892/1972 Snyder 211/148 3,680,495 8/1972 Pike 108/53 3,685,464 8/1972Ranno 108/51 Dec. 24, 1974.

3,719,342 3/1973 Kupersmit 108/55 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1,154,589 6/1969 Great Britain [08/51 Primary Examiner-Roy D. FrazierAssistant Examiner-Peter A. Aschenbrenner Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Robert A. Sloman [57] ABSTRACT A convertible gondola island displayfor stores includes a unit molded plastic base having a monoplanar topplatform and a honeycomb skeleton body which includes parallel spacedmonoplanar side and end walls and a series of interconnected partitionstherebetween. The partitions and end walls define a pair of open-endedtubular passages at the ends of the platform and body which receiveupright tubular supports frictionally disposed therein and which extendabove said platform. The top platform includesa pair of outwardlyopening slots which supportably receive and retain a pair of uprightback'panels on said platform nested between said supports. The tubularsupports on their opposite sides have longitudinally spaced slotsadapted to supportably receive bracket hooks at the ends of shelvesadjustably positioned against and upon said supports; t

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Pmamsn w w SHLU 2 [IF 2 CONVERTIBLE GONDOLADISPLAY FOR STORES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I-Ieretofore, varioustypes of gondola island displays have been provided for stores of acomplicated construction adapted for the display of merchandise and,wherein, involved assemblies were required for the mounting of displayracks or shelves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the presentinvention to provide in an island display for stores, a unit moldedplastic base of a suitable structural foam plastic to provide a flat topplatform and a downwardly opening honeycomb body construction.

It is a further object to form the platform and body as to providepassages therethrough within which upright supports may be frictionallydisposed and anchored for the mounting of display panels and or'shelving.

It is the further object to provide a convertible gondola island displaywhich may be used in various ways, either for supporting back panels forthe mounting and display of goods alone or in conjunction withvertically adjustable shelving adjustably connected to and projectingfrom the supports on said platform.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specificationand claims in conjunction with the appended drawings.

THE DRAWINGS;

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present convertible gondolaisland display for stores;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the platform-and base for saidisland display, on a reduced scale;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the top platform and bodycorresponding to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken in the direction of arrows 44 ofFIG. 2 on an increased scale;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken in the direction of arrows 5--5 ofFIG. 2 on an increased scale.

It will be understood that the above drawings illustrate merely apreferred embodiment of the invention, and that-other embodiments arecontemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, thepresent convertible gondola island display for stores is generallyindicated at 11, FIG. 1, and includes a unit plastic molded base 13constructed of a suitable structural foam plastic such as polystyrene,polypropanate or equivalent mate rial.

Said base includes a top monoplanar platform 15 and depending therefromthe honeycombed downwardly opening skeleton body 17. Said body includesopposed parallel spaced side walls 19 and corresponding spaced end walls21 together with a series of right-angularly related integralinterconnected partitions 23, joined to said walls, as best shown inFIG. 3.

Said skeleton structure includes partitions which define with therespective end walls 21 a pair ofopenended upright tubular passages 25which extend throughout the height of the platform and body as shown inFIGS. 2, 4 and 5. A pair of parallel spaced elongated outwardly openinggrooves 27 are fonned within the top platform, with the ends of saidgrooves merging with the upright channels 25.

As a convertible gondola island display for stores, the platform andbase body structure may be employed by itself, FIG. 2, for displayingbulk merchandise and the like and without the addition of the superstructure shown in FIG. 1.

Additional functions may be achieved with the use of Q the unit moldedbase, wherein a pair of upright tubular supports 33 of a cross sectioncorresponding to the channels 25 at their one ends are frictionallyprojected and nested down into said channels throughout their height.Said tubular supports extend above said top platform in FIG. 1, and maybe connected at their upper ends by the transverse top cap channel 37which spans the supports 33 overlying the upper ends thereof andsuitably secured thereto. A sign holder is centrally positioned upon thetop cap at 39-for use as desired. Under some conditions, to provide anopen appearance. to the gondola display assembly, the top cap may beomitted, since the tubular supports 33 will be stabilized by theapplication thereto of one or more shelving assemblies 41.

On opposite sides of the supports 33 are provided opposed longitudinallyspaced slots 35, which in a conventional fashion are adapted tointerlockingly receive the rearwardly extending vertically spaced hooks43 at the ends of a rectangular shelf 41. Such shelf is secured to andprojects laterally outward from said tubular supports.

It is contemplated that more than one shelf assembly may be employedprojecting from the same side or from opposite sides of the respectivetubular. supports anchored thereto as at 43, FIG. 1. Shelves of thistype are known to have conventional type of hook bracket 43 arranged inpairs adapted to be projected into and interlock with a correspondingpair of aligned slots in the respective supports.

To provide a modified display, a pair of spaced upright back panels 45are interposed between the supports 33 and below cap 37, if employed,with their lower edges nested and retained within the correspondboardconstruction for the display of carded merchandise.

In addition to the unit molded base and top platform being used alone,FIG. 2, it may be employed with the supports 33 with or without the topcap 37 and with or without one or more or a series of laterallyextending shelves 41 projecting from one or both sides of the saidsupports.

Additionally, with or without the'shelves 41 and as a part of theconvertible structure of the present gondola island display, there maybe employed the opposed pair of parallel spaced back panels 45 nestedwithin the slots 27 in the top platform and retained within theframework defined by supports 33 and cap 37.

Referring to the dotted line 49 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the present unitplastic molded platform and base may be formed of a one halfconstruction as a half unit for use against a wall or at the end of afull unit.

The contruction is exactly the same except that the skeleton structureand partitions rearwardly of the dotted line 49 will be omitted.

As a versatile convertible gondola island display, its

various uses may be as follows:

1. with no vertical structure, it can be used as a platform fordisplaying bulk merchandise, etc.;

2. with the addition of the pair of vertically slotted supports 33 and atop cap, two back panels and two panel retainers, it becomes a displaygondola to which shelving or other special display fixtures may beassembled;

3. if the panels used are of a pegboard construction, various hardwarecan be used for displaying carded merchandise;

4. the main uniqueness of the gondola is that the platform and base isof a honeycomb one-piece assembly of a structural foam plastic for easeof assembly and low cost production and lightness;

5. the other features are convertibility from platform to gondola,capability of using changing color and other features of back panels andability to use shelving, hangers and many other display fixtures thatfit into the slotted tubing supports;

6. it may be used as a platform with a pair of slotted vertical supportmembers only to give an open display effect to the unit;

7. it may be used as a full unit or as a half unit for use againstwalls, or at the end of a full unit.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A convertible gondola island display for stores comprising a unitmolded base of structural foam plastic material and of rectangular shapein plan having a monoplanar flat top platform, and a honeycombdownwardly opening skeleton body depending therefrom, including parallelspaced monoplanar side and end support walls and a series ofinterconnected right angularly related partitions therebetween, saidwalls and partitions being of uniform height with their lower edges in asingle plane;

said partitions and end walls defining therebetwee a pair of open-endedspaced upright tubular'passages of rectangular cross section at oppositeends and throughout the height. of said platform and body; uprighttubular supports of similar cross section nested and disposed withinsaid passages and frictionally retained therein, and extending abovesaid platform;

a cap extending between and overlying said supports and secured thereto;said top platform having therein a pair of spaced outwardly openingslots at their ends merging with said passages;

and a pair of upright parallel back panels nested within and betweensaid tubular supports and cap and at their lower ends nested andretained within said slots respectively, inwardly directed panelretainers projecting from said tubular supports retainingly engagingsaid panels along their height. 2. In the display of claim I, saidtubular supports having'a series of opposed longitudinally spaced slotsextending through opposite sides thereof; and at least one verticallyadjustable shelf spanning and projecting laterally from said supports,with vertically spaced bracket hooks at each end retainingly nested andinterlocked within corresponding support slots.

1. A convertible gondola island display for stores comprising a unit molded base of structural foam plastic material and of rectangular shape in plan having a monoplanar flat top platform, and a honeycomb downwardly opening skeleton body depending therefrom, including parallel spaced monoplanar side and end support walls and a series of interconnected right angularly related partitions therebetween, said walls and partitions being of uniform height with their lower edges in a single plane; said partitions and end walls defining therebetween a pair of open-ended spaced upright tubular passages of rectangular cross section at opposite ends and throughout the height of said platform and body; upright tubular supports of similar cross section nested and disposed within said passages and frictionally retained therein, and extending above said platform; a cap extending between and overlying said supports and secured thereto; said top platform having therein a pair of spaced outwardly opening slots at their ends merging with said passages; and a pair of upright parallel back panels nested within and between said tubular supports and cap and at their lower ends nested and retained within said slots respectively, inwardly directed panel retainers projecting from said tubular supports retainingly engaging said panels along their height.
 2. In the display of claim 1, said tubular supports having a series of opposed longitudinally spaced slots extending through opposite sides thereof; and at least one vertically adjustable shelf spanning and projecting laterally from said supports, with vertically spaced bracket hooks at each end retainingly nested and interlocked within corresponding support slots. 